Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-09-26
The Key.

tor, do you care for piay:" said the
Duchess Helen to a young man. who.
although he wore no uniform. was
easily recognized as a surgeon of the
navy BY his ship-shape figure, tanned
complexion and clear, unffinching
gaze.
4 have liked it, madame" re-
sponded Dr.. Robert de Riondel.
"Would it be indiscreet to ask you
why you play no longer:"
by no means, madame" and
showing a small key, finely chased,
the young man added: This is my
protection. Whenever l am tempted
TO play l touch this talisman, and the
memories which it awakens instantly
dispel all desire to handle a card"
Truly? cried the little countess
d'Aur. is there blood on your KEY,
and does this preface portend a story,
a Ia Blue-Beard 2
Nay; do not jest. Madame. my
story is by no means laughable.'
doctor, we are all attention" in
terrupted the Duchess Helen. The
group gathered around Robert de
Riondel. who. without further bid
ding, began in these words:
1t was on the Senegal, at st. Louis,
that I played for the last time. One
evening Of that other summer. at the
French Club-we were offering a
parting toast to the governor, who
departed next day for the metropolis
i found myself in company with
all the officers and merchants Of note
in the colony. One Of these last,
! D., was quite well known to me.
Three months previous he had called
me to attend his sick wife in his cot
tage of the Cocotiers.
The beautiful Madame D. -(they
called her nothing else at st. Louis)
was just twenty years old. All of
the officers fell headlong in love with
her eyes. sea-green under long brown
lashes, and with an expression at the
same time, naive and provocative,
with the thick waves Of gold in her
hair, and her pure, fair skin. which
withstood the sun Of the tropics.
In turn, I was infatuated with the
charm Of this veritable siren. I
found her on couch, little fever
lsh, and all the more beautiful. IN
der the 1ioA< ~.vpriuE III ruI II WAS
defined, clear and full. Her charm
ing voice. in which, notwithstanding
there vibrated some unknown regret.
enchanted me. How shall I express
my feelings to YOU? I was charmed
through my eyes, my ears and my
sensibilities I am quite sure that
trembled little in taking her arm to
count her pulse. It was with great
difficulty that I concealed, under the
air Of professional gravity, the in
tense impressions this fair young wo-
man made on me. 1 tore myself
away at last, a prey to the pangs of
first love, which is at the same time
so delicious.
The loosely-binding friendships
common TO cosmOpolites, broken of
and taken up in all the ports of the
two hemispheres at the chance Of ar
rivals and departures, had left me
sufficiently Indifferent. If perchance
a few distant stLtoaettes profiled them
selves against the background Of my
memory, they were for the most part
mere trihes Of the day. and quite for
gotten by the morrow a few tears
on the quay at the moment Of part
ing. a futtering bit Of cambria waved
In token Of farewell and commended
TO God, the parted one seeks other
climes and fresh faces. | went again
and again to the Cocotiers. Nine. |
D. was too beautiful not to be
perfect in every detail. Her CONVEX
sation, replete with every charm, de-
noted most uncommon culture. No |
accomplishment was unknown to her.
l passed with her The best hours Of /
nv life. She convalesced rapidly |
too rapidly for my liking. D
hardly concealed his jealousy, and Of /
necessity l ceased my visits. | need |
hardly say that had spoken no word /
Of love to her, but she was too thor /
oughly feminine not to divine nv /
feelings. OF what her feelings were
for me | was then in ignorance. Only !
BY q fashion she had Of looking at
her husband. and hy the tone her
voice took in speaking 10 him,
knew. without doubt. that she had
for him. if not an intense passion, at
least a sufficient attachment 70 rem
der her sacred in my eyes. One
heard strange stories Of this D..
Having come here with his wife some
years previous to seek his fortune,
he had amassed in two years a good
round sum in the gold and ivory
trade. They were about 70 leave st.
Louis for France. On the eve Of
their departure, D rushsd to bis
L1vna vsafc arI JSel.xcIaE 1Eg~1 a 1
madman. He had gambled-staked
on his honor, and lost the last penny.
Who can tell what passed between
the man and his wife: Dep0nent re-
mains mute from henceforward She.
doubtless, forgaye him He started
again with renewed effort, and. a. be
was active and industrious. success
again crowned his efforts. Since that